Religion fails whenever it sees itself as a necessary intermediary to God.

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Stations of the Cross a Contemplative Journey

Stations
of the Cross, is one of the more familiar Catholic devotional exercises, in
which participants focus their prayer on representations of fourteen scenes of
Christ’s Passion. The Stations of the Cross are commonly part of parish Lenten
devotions. It origins are ultimately traceable to pilgrims’ visiting the various
sites in Jerusalem associated with Christ’s suffering and death. Modern
liturgist have emphasized that devotion to the Passion is incomplete without
reference to the Resurrection and to this end have fostered the addition of a “fifteenth
Station”.

While
the meaning of this exercise may vary from parish to parish, most participants
will recognize its deeper message that not only does Jesus completely identify
with our suffering he is totally present in every step of journey to
wholeness.

Recently
a friend presented me with a unique contemplative application to bring us via the
Stations of the Cross even closer to the suffering of Christ and that of own or someone we love. This healing imagery could easily be adopted by any parish for reasons
explained by this dear and anonymous friend.

A
Contemplative Journey

By
way of introduction, I would like to
express my sentiments solely, that this reflection is not entirely about death
of the body, but rather life of the spirit.Let it be known however that suffering (sometimes even death) may be
necessary to raise us to the next spiritual plateau.

While
sitting, in a quiet moment of reflection on Monday night at adoration, my
friend Trebert suddenly came to mind.He
has been diagnosed with cancer and I was wondering if I could help him on his
journey of discovery.I looked around
the church and noticed the first station of the Cross.Jesus was on a journey (a mission if you
like) to save all of mankind in a most unselfish act of sacrifice and love.Then it hit me!I could substitute the image of Jesus and
replace Him with Trebert, or any of us for that matter.

Jesus
was condemned not so much for what He did but for what He didn’t do.Trebert also did nothing to merit condemnation
but found himself on the same journey.Jesus accepts and takes up his cross and Trebert has done the same.Jesus shows human weakness when he falls
under his heavy burden and we shall do the same.The important element here is not that we
have fallen but that we are willing to get up.As He is lying on the ground he gazes into a source of strength and resolve
– His mother’s face who now knows this journey is both necessary and
unavoidable.She represents the goodness
of all of humanity.We too must become
like Mary and assist Trebert on his spiritual Journey.Jesus cannot carry his cross alone so Simon
now carries it with Him.The contrast
here is that Simon and Jesus both need each other to accomplish the task at
hand.By compassion and caring we can
also help Trebert along his journey.

Jesus’
brow is wiped with a cloth by Veronica and His image is transformed onto
it.It is a lasting impression of what
He will leave behind - His spirit of love.Trebert has written many wonderful insights into church teaching and
will no doubt continue to do so and this is what he leaves for us.

Jesus
falls a second time expressing failure in human existence.It is part of our human frailty and we should
be alright with that.Again He
rises!He meets the women of Jerusalem
who are crying and sobbing for his sake but Jesus enlightens them that they too
shall carry a “cross” of their own.Jesus falls a final time.It is
interesting to note that failure is part of our D.N.A but it is our resolve to
“try” and to accept Gods will that is significant for our own spiritual
journey.

The
soldiers now strip Jesus of His clothes and dignity.But what do we need to be stripped of?Jesus is telling us to rid ourselves of
pride, prejudice, hatred, and judgmental attitudes and clothe ourselves instead
with love, compassion, and understanding for all.When Jesus is nailed to the cross it is the
culmination of good and evil co-existing together – for a while.

The
evil of sin and the innocent Victim are bonded together by the nails of the
cross.They struggle incessantly until
one is annihilated.Jesus dies and it
would appear that sin us victorious.While Jesus’ body is still fastened to the cross, hanging lifeless and
broken, His spirit has gone to the father.His resurrection was imminent but not just yet, the three day prophecy
had to be fulfilled.Jesus is now taken
down from the cross symbolic that good and evil go their separate ways.For us, this could be the death of our own
ego as we continue to “live” in our earthly existence.Jesus is placed in the tomb until His
resurrection.Allegorically speaking we
remain in the tomb unless transformation of our ego to God’s will is
achieved.If indeed this happens, then
we too can resurrect as Christ did on Easter Sunday. - Anonymous

1 comment:

anjneil
said...

Thank you for this understanding of a Catholic devotional. I am not of your Faith; and it has enlightened me immensely. Sincerely Sister Neil, missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.